Chief Minister Howard Quayle has welcomed the results of two government reports on the working population.

The latest unemployment figures and the annual Earnings Survey were released last week.

Unemployment stood at 1.3 per cent of the economically active population at the end of January.

The number of people registered as unemployed was 601, some 272 lower than a year ago.

Mr Quayle said: ’It’s really good news.

’Unemployment is at the lowest level since the global financial crisis in 2008.’

But he added that a priority was to continue to grow the skilled workforce of 20 to 40-year-olds so the economy continues to grow and the government can afford to fund services to the standard residents want.

’We are doing our utmost to train our young people for the well-paid jobs but we have the same problem as the rest of the developed world with an ageing population.

He indicated there were ’some exciting new businesses’ looking to set up in the island, in the e-business and manufacturing sectors.

He said the results of the latest annual Earnings Survey provided ’positive news’.

It showed that average full-time earnings in the Isle of Man were up by 2.2 per cent.

And full-time earnings for the lowest 10 per cent of earners were up by 4.5 per cent.

Mr Quayle said: ’That’s really good - people on the bread line have seen increases in their earnings in real terms.’

But he said that ’more needs to be done’ and the Council of Ministers is ’constantly working to take the Isle of Man forward’.

8 Comments

rubbish statistics, ageism and using the term 'living on the breadline' is this the new catchphrase rather insulting I would guess mr Quayle doesn't know what it's like to struggle to pay your way when actually working

'He said the results of the latest annual Earnings Survey provided ’positive news. It showed that average full-time earnings in the Isle of Man were up by 2.2%. And full-time earnings for the lowest 10 per cent of earners were up by 4.5%. That’s really good - people on the bread line have seen increases in their earnings in real terms.’
This may be true, it doesn't take in to account the cost of living increase far and above these figures...the rich get richer and the poor stay poor.

Good news. Mr Quayle has also announced that 500 additional jobs are in the pipeline for this year and that the target is 1,000 new jobs a year. This clearly must mean bringing in people with required skills. What planning is on place for this!

’That’s really good - people on the bread line have seen increases in their earnings in real terms.’. I somehow suspect that heads of Government should be a little more thoughtful with their terminology. How many people within this particular third-world demographic does the Isle of Man have? 'But he added that a priority was to continue to grow the skilled workforce of 20 to 40-year-olds'. Equality Bill?

This is like the nanny state. It means nothing upon scrutiny wages have dropped and not kept up with costs. We have a higher Benefits in work bill, zero hours contracts and weakening employment rights. No retailers will come here but Sports Direct are so that's alright! We have many part-time seasonal vacancies, no minimum let alone living wage. Some of the highest housing costs in the private rip-off rented sector and utilities costs with many living on inadequate incomes and a Food Bank.

This man must really believe his own PR. This is spin. he's only interested in growing the skilled workforce of 20 to 40 somethings? Has he written off the rest of the workforce over 40. What about skilling the unskilled or is that outside their comprehension. But that would involve thinking 'outside the box'. How prejudiced to those caught in the middle. So blinkered.